Steve Reynolds

"Before the Sermon" The opening track from "Going to Church"

The challenge I have with Rainey is that WHEN he plays to his strength (which is his off kilter grooves or even anti-grooves), that there is no other drummer I know of who displays that sort of power and intensity. Yes, his brushwork and hand drumming and his use of wine glasses and scraped cymbals is all very accomplished and creative - BUT - when one is that great at playing with extreme fire, I wish for more of that than he is willing to give on a regular basis. And I've seen the guy probably 10+ times over the past 18 months in a variety of contexts and he remains one of the best drummers playing today - so this is not what some might think.

I am also not a fan of the cooler than thou approach in the freeish outtish areas. As much as I like Rainey, Laubrock, Davis and many of the other downtowners, I get irritated when they don't maximize the intensity more often. Sometimes it can be quiet or detailed intensity but often that sinks into drab monochromatic pseudo avant balladeering. I got me a large antidote to that this Friday night with Nasheet's great quartet with Darius Jones, David Virelles and Mark Helias. I will get more this Thursday as any band with Mat Maneri and Randy Peterson is never too cool to rip it up - loud or soft

Up for those in the NYC area who might be interested in what looks like a very interesting and intense two sets this Thurday night. Will be my first time seeing two drummers in the great little room. I do wonder how they gonna fit the two kits. Say hi - I will be first in line......

A couple of friends of mine are going. I would go if I wasn't busy that night plus I am going to my "Show of the Year" the night before @ Cornelia Street

Just viewed the first clip - too bad they NEVER played anything approaching THAT when I saw them live!! That is the Tom Rainey and Ingrid Laubrock that are worth seeing at almost any cost. I guess I need to give the band another listen.....live and maybe I pick up the latest CD

When I went through a couple of horror show years back in the early 2000's I received many a parcel of CDs from the old crew from Jazz Corner as they knew I wasn't affording any CDs any time soon and I had through desperation sold over 500 CDs for one more

I've seen Ingrid when she is more subdued but I've also seen her a couple of times when she really had it going on - specifically with the Rainey trio with Mary Halvorsen. I tend to lose interest when the overly compositional nature of the larger ensembles suck the improvisational freedom out of the music. That was my experience with Anti-House live. I could have fallen asleep.

Rainey on a good night when he gets aggressive and interested in a few deep grooves is as exciting a drummer as can be heard live

Second set even better. First tune an Andrew Hill composition as was the first tune in the first set. Second piece a 30 plus minute piece of something I never heard before that I want to try to write about later. They ended with Sam Rivers' Unity without any solos and it was as hot and tight as jazz can be. White fucking hot. Nasheet is a master of dynamics and the multi or poly groove. Indebted to Elvin but of the next generation. Brilliant, nuanced and power to spare. And the spirit exuded by the band was apparent. And Mark Helias is simply a virtuoso with the bow and merely munificent without it. And the pianist (with his boss Henry Threadgill in the house) meshed beautifully with the band, quite emphatically by the second set. And as I mentioned earlier, Darius Jones is a force of nature. Among aspects of his playing, his tone is as deep and from the soul as any alto saxophonist I've ever seen live. Standing on a Whale Fishing for Minnows

First set well worth the drive Darius Jones rules the world. Dude plays the alto saxophone like no one else

First in line!! 15 degrees!! Hope the 2 hour trek was worth it!!!

Seriously for those non NYC area people who don't get a chance to see these two live very often, enjoy the opportunity. Rainey on a good night will bend your brain

Decision made!! Tomorrow night I be going to see the Nasheet Waits band @ Cornelia Street Cafe. Deciding factor is it's been too long since I've seen Darius Jones live and he is capable of amazing me. And Mark Helias is one of the best and most versatile bassists. Looking forward to surviving the crazy last day of the month at the job and then the insane ride to NYC for the two sets

Waits is at Cornelia Street Cafe

Do I go see Nasheet Waits with Darius Jones, David Virelles and Mark Helias this Friday? Or Ben Goldberg with Craig Taborn and Ches Smith for the first set on Saturday night with the second set adding Ellery Eskelin and another tenor man? Plus Taborn is playing Wurlitzer for the second set. I'm torn

Three MUST gets

I saw a band with Sacks and Weiss over a year ago. Sacks is an interesting pianist but Weiss added little with a very predictable rote approach to the kit. Even my wife thought he was stale and she loves most drummers as much as I do. Yes Ellery has a great tone but I've not heard the fire from him over the past few years that used to his normal level.

Of course the rhythm sections I want to hear live more than any others Of course we are not lacking great drummers in NYC

Mat Maneri 4 times with his dad Joe Probably about 10-12 times the last 3-4 years Tony Malaby probably 12-15 times the last 4 years Peter Brotzmann probably 8-10 times the last 15 years Han Bennink 6-8 times the last 15 years Andrew Cyrille 10-12 times those last 15 years Hamid Drake 12-15 times those last 15 years Gerry Hemingway 8-10 times the last 15 years Least for those I love: Barry Guy - once Mark Sanders - once Alexander Von Schlippenbach - once Paul Lovens - once Never have I seen: Louis Moholo-Moholo John Edwards

I can believe that Steve. I saw that he played duo with John Butcher, which tells me he can do much greater things than he does here, where he is somewhat overcast. I suspect as this group plays together more, the balance will come right. The recording to get is called Schnee

Sounds like it should be great

Fwiw, Kurzmann is brilliant in some other small improv contexts.

Xybert: My first recommendation for you is DKV Trio Live in Wels and Chicago 2 CD set on okkadisk recorded in 1998. To this day the Chicago performances on disc 2 and specifically the last 2 longish tracks titled "Burning Sky" and "Blues for Tomorrow" stand out as highlights for KV's groove based playing and also feature Hamid Drake at his most convincing. This recording demands to be heard Plus the first disc is primarily a reading of Don Cherry's Complete Communion suite so this set is all around wonderous

Sounds like an awesome band.